Robert F. Scott, CS

Month: May 2017

“The letter of Science plentifully reaches humanity to-day, but its spirit comes only in small degrees. The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,—pulseless, cold, inanimate.”

Mary Baker Eddy

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 113:)

Teacher Rob:

I want to tell you that in my life I have had a lot of teachers but you are my favorite, you are cool. I’ll miss you.

Good Luck.

Armando

Dear teacher,

I want to tell you that you are a nice teacher and you are very funny. I will miss you. I love you.

Anna

Dear Teacher, Rob

I wanted to tell you that I will never forget you. You are my favorite teacher. I learned a lot of things in your class. I hope to see you again. Have a good trip.

With love,

Grace

Teacher Rob,

I want to tell you that you are a good teacher. I won’t forget you too. You owe me tacos. Have a good trip. Stay healthy and be happy all the time.

Good luck,

Elena

Dear Teacher Rob,

I remember when I came to this school, you were my first teacher. You taught me a lot of things like the game “Apples to Apples”. I will always remember you like the best teacher in the school. Tranquilo (peace) and be happy.

Thank you and good luck in your trip.

With love,

Amy

Hi teacher,

I think that you are a good teacher and friend. You are always happy, tranquilo and a polite person.

Teacher, you are the best teacher because you always have a smile and a good attitude.

Thank you and good luck.

I will always remember you.

God Bless you!

Bella

Teacher Rob,

Thanks for your wisdom and experiences you shared with us. I wish you a good trip and all the best of success in all your dreams.

Hi teacher! Maybe you’re on the bus now or on the plane. I expect that everything is going to be all right and “tranquilo” [peaceful].

Thank you so much for all your time. I know you tried to teach us the best but you’re the best. I’d like to have you stay here for more time but I know you have other responsibilities.

Although it was a short time, I learned so much from you. I never had an American teacher before and it was an unique experience. Good luck with all your prospects.

We love you so much and think highly of you.

Love and friendship,

Jesus

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Left Behind

By Rob Scott, CS

May 29th, 2017

I wish I could take some of my students and the job with me including some of the teachers and administrators.

I prepared some of the teachers for the TOEFL exam. One particular teacher expressed his gratitude to me on my teaching. He stated he felt in his heart that I genuinely cared for all of them. And that made that all the difference.

Another student even stated after graduating from the school: “You made us feel like family and it wasn’t the same in some of the other classes.”

Perhaps that is because they were my family.

I am leaving Mexico with a full heart and a lifetime of memories and stories to possibly write in my upcoming book. Perhaps I’ll write it during the next New England winter. God certainly gave me enough material.

Please know I was saved in every possible way as love was reflected in love.

Thus I will be returning to the United States where I will find acceptance on my own terms, and define my own ideas of home and family.

Thank you, Oaxaca, and a fond farewell. I am leaving with a full heart and that is more than enough. I will miss you all!

In a mysterious desert world, a young man embarks on a perilous adventure where he discovers that letting go is the only way to save himself.

VIDEO (Not part of original message by Tim) – Published on Aug 10, 2014

By Armando Sahugan – Aug 21, 2014 – In his debut theatrical release as writer/director (Jonesy) presents a unique film. When a Young Man (Adam Brotman) embarks on a perilous journey to discover the meaning of life, the intense heat and harsh terrain take their toll on the weary Young Man who becomes lost and totally disoriented. However, a peculiar Old Man (Larry Thompson) finds the lost traveler and offers to help. Though apprehensive at first, the young man decides to set off with the unknown companion. Their journey together takes them through extraordinary landscapes and fantastic lands where they are haunted by an evil force, portrayed by the lovely (Ivana Brooks). The Young Man’s faith is tested as he must ultimately make a life or death decision. Where is the Old Man leading him? Who is he? What happens to the Young Man? Watch Luggage and take part in a thrilling story that challenges us all to let go of the things that bring us down.

More and more individuals are considering detoxing and cleansing their bodies of impurities for health reasons. But interestingly, some of the most toxic problems we suffer are negative mental states.

For instance, research, as well as common sense, is increasingly showing the health risks of anger. An Ohio State University study showed that those who had less control over their anger tended to heal more slowly from wounds. In another study, researchers concluded that anger problems have been linked to all major causes of death (stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/anger_problems).

For many, negative feelings can sometimes accumulate to disturbing levels. During those times, we need a good mental detoxing to clear out unhealthy emotions, such as jealousy, stress and irritation, which can poison one’s good nature, upset his mental balance, and damage health.

Here are some helpful tips I have found in my spiritual practice that are important in mental cleansing:

Purge past disappointments with gratitude for good things in your life today

Don’t rehearse cruelty – practice empathy and tolerance instead

St. Paul lists nine important ingredients that can help detox any hatred: patience, kindness, generosity, humility, courtesy, unselfishness, good temper, guilelessness and sincerity (see I Cor. 13: 5-8). I have found that these qualities act as antidotes for anger and its health threats.

Early in my spiritual healing practice I went to visit a homeless man who was living temporarily in a motel. He was suffering from extreme mental distress and intense fear. I talked to him for a while, sharing ideas I hoped would calm and comfort him, but he only became irrationally angry with me, and as I got in the car to leave, he slammed the car door on my leg.

As he pushed and pushed, he said, “I am going to push this door until I break your leg.” I was just quiet. Soon, he let go. I got out of the car and sat down in the parking lot with him and he talked for over an hour. I listened, and we prayed together. He quieted down, and stated he just needed someone to listen to him and pray with him. He was much better when I left. Shortly after that, he found an apartment he could afford and lived there happily for quite a while. From that experience, I learned the importance of patience, unselfishness, courtesy and sincerity (the fruit of the Spirit) in detoxing harmful situations.

If you’re combatting anger, jealousy or hatred, or know someone who is, try a mental cleansing. Give yourself and them a good mental detox with humility, patience, kindness and love. See for yourself how it helps eliminate stress and gain better health.

Perhaps the most significant discussion of same-gender sexuality at Principia in this period came in the aftermath of a Christian Science lecture. Jill Gooding C.S.B., a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship, gave a Church sanctioned lecture at Principia College [1990’s]. In her opening remarks she quoted Mrs. Eddy: ‘In C.S. mere opinion is valueless’ (S&H 341:11) and reportedly told everyone ‘Homosexuality is something that needs to be healed.’ All Bible quotes against homosexuality were brought out.”

Christian Science: Its encounter with gay/lesbian America, page 172

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I suspect you (Jill Gooding) have been loving to gay members but still approached them as in need of healing for being gay or lesbian which would make them feel less than acceptable as if they are broken and in need of being fixed.

Name Withheld, CS

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When you take something that is natural and block a positive expression of that desire people then start looking for an outlook for that appetite in unhealthy ways. This can lead to self hatred including self harm behavior, depression, substance abuse and suicide.

UCLA experts showed that healthy homosexuals who are in a healthy and affirmative environment have a tendency to do just fine and are not pathological.

The problem comes in when at an early young age our youth are outed or taught that being gay is abnormal and sinful and face family and religious rejection. Some are “driven to utter destitution” by being kicked out of their homes at an early age and end up homeless on the streets.

Church, family and society then labels them “less than” or “unequal” and the child has little to no resources or emotional equipment to fight those labels. This results in spiritual abuse and repression which can have a disastrous impact on their mental health and well being. This can lead to a travesty of behaviors.

But this has begun to change in some families, churches and societies that are slowly beginning to be more welcoming of LGBT people as evidenced in the NPR discussion below by at least opening and encouraging a dialogue with the LGBT community and their churchs.

Thus diversity comes in and says lets celebrate our differences as we are all more alike than not.

Perhaps this is one of the missions of your blog, to help and intervene with trustworthy guidance, as there has not been anything like it before when youth needed it during their most desperate hour of need.

Some were even lost along the way as demonstrated in yesterdays movie clip from “Prayers for Bobby”. A result of these false labels placed on a child by the family and Church is a lie that needs to be uncovered and expunged. The youth need to know they were born perfect.

Reparative therapy is not only dangerous but it’s hate speech even when utilized in Christian Science homes which can have disastrous consequences as evidenced by the suicide and suicide attempts even within the CS movement.

I agree that those antigay articles are nothing more than a form of hate speech and have done more harm by bullying our LGBT youth and adults in the name of Mrs. Eddy and God.

I also can’t find anything in Mrs. Eddy writings supporting them either.

So remember, a child is listening!

Name Withheld

Former Employee of TMC/Christian Science Monitor/BA

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Mon, May 15 2017 • 11 a.m. (ET)

http://the1a.org/

Evangelicals Rethinking LGBTQ Rights And Inclusion

Most evangelical church leaders condemn same sex relationships. But some evangelical churches and colleges are starting to have open and frank conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity. Evangelicals and rethinking LGBTQ rights and inclusion.

Most Recent

Matthew Vines, founder and president of The Reformation Project, leads a discussion about LGBTQ inclusion in evangelical churches at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., November 7, 2014. Rick Wood

Monday, May 15 • 11 a.m. (ET)

47:12

Most evangelical church leaders condemn same sex relationships. But some evangelical churches and colleges are starting to have open and frank conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity.

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And take a look at our graphic below. You might not have thought that marriage equality legislation could drive down youth suicide rates. But it looks like it has, particularly for sexual minorities. Check it out – and be reminded of what a “you are welcome here” sign can make in a young person’s confidence and desire to excel.

Senior Editor with The Christian Science Monitor‘s EqualEd section

No Incorrect Literature.

A member of this Church shall neither buy, sell, nor circulate Christian Science literature which is not correct in its statement of the divine Principle and rules and the demonstration of Christian Science. Also the spirit in which the writer has written his literature shall be definitely considered. His writings must show strict adherence to the Golden Rule, or his literature shall not be adjudged Christian Science. A departure from the spirit or letter of this By-Law involves schisms in our Church and the possible loss, for a time, of Christian Science.

Mary Baker Eddy

Manual of The Mother Church, Article VIII, Section 11

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Several articles and editorials have been written explaining why homosexuals cannot be admitted to membership. One of these I wrote myself, the title: “Homosexuality Can Be Healed.” All I can say in defense of myself for writing it is that it was based on information I thought was authentic, but which later was disproved by further studies. If I were to write another article on the subject now, I would probably entitle it, “We’re ALL God’s Children.”

by Carl J. Welz, C.S.B.

Houston, TX – October 11, 1986

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Video – “Prayers for Bobby” is based on a true story.

My son is not an issue.

Healing Family and Religious Rejection and Saving our Youth and Adults.

by Rob Scott, CS

5/16/2017

I was heart broken several years ago during a visit to The Mother Church when a reliable source high within the movement informed me of his close friend and student of Christian Science who committed suicide after class instruction while trying to pray away the gay. He had a parent who worked for The Christian Science Monitor/The Mother Church.

There are others who have attempted suicide for this same reason and reached out to me to share their stories. It is time for things to change and for the periodicals to be kept “abreast of the times”.

Perhaps the Church could learn from these sad plights and stop the use of badly applied Christian Science as tool for “reparative therapy” and take down those “harmful, antigay articles” posted on JSH Online.

The Senior Researcher of The Mary Baker Eddy Library stated there is nothing in Mrs. Eddy’s writings supporting those articles during a workshop at Midwest Church Alive 2014.

What if this was your child?

What would Mrs. Eddy say?

Not in my name!

Mrs. Eddy even put the following on the mast head of “The Christian Science Monitor”, ..To Injure No Man but to bless ALL mankind.

This is for all those who never had a voice, suffered in silence or whom we lost along the way to the human sense.

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

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“We don’t want gays and lesbians in our church.”

My Teacher, CSB (Class instruction)

Annetta Schneider

1988

“We don’t want queers in our family…being ‘homosexual’ is the most horrible thing a man can be.”

This woman’s niche was to ridicule anybody who was “homosexual”. She even tried to pick out church members or their children who were gay or perceived to be gay. But the joke was on her as her father and son were both gay. One didn’t make it and her son attempted suicide due to her hatred of “homosexuals”.

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CANCER: Are We Too Busy Tracking Problems To Spot Solutions

Last month it was breast cancer, this month it’s prostate cancer – the calls keep coming to screen our bodies. But might there be any potential for healing if we look away from our bodies into our thinking?

That is the question – and it’s a controversial one. Many medics feel screening can too often be a slippery slope to potentially damaging and invasive treatments for something that might never actually develop.

That has proved to be the case for prostate cancer screening in men,according to researchers in Canada. They have recommended scrapping PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing, even for those considered high risk.

Their study tracked 1,500 men aged 50-69 years over two decades. It found between 11 and 19 percent of those diagnosed with prostate cancer didn’t actually have it, while another 40 to 56 percent ended up being “over diagnosed”. That means they were told they had the disease, yet were not destined to experience any of its symptoms nor suffer an early death from it.

Nevertheless, they could still end up having surgery they didn’t need as well as complications from it.

But what if we took a breather from looking for potential problems and actually looked for alternative solutions?

That is, what would happen if we tracked down people who have experienced “the disappearance, complete or incomplete, of a disease or cancer without medical treatment or [with] treatment that is considered inadequate to produce the resulting disappearance of disease symptoms or tumor.” This is how “spontaneous remission” is defined in an Annotated Bibliography of such cases compiled by the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

This book was comprehensively studied by cancer researcher Kelly Turner as a Masters student. She recalls being shocked to discover how many “spontaneous remissions” – including over a thousand documented cases of recovery from cancer – had been noted in medical records without any effort being made to determine how these recoveries had occurred.

Her findings compelled her to take up the issue as a PhD study, in which she concluded that most of these remissions were not “spontaneous” at all. That is, they were not “without a cause” but actually involved radical life changes people worked hard to bring about – most of which addressed emotional and spiritual factors. She interviewed many such “survivors” with an open mind.

“I just wanted to hear whatever they had to say, so to hear so much come up regarding psycho-emotional-spiritual stuff was very surprising to me,” she recently told a colleague of mine.

One of the nine “treatments” she took away from those conversations was “experiencing a deeper spirituality” – an approach one Californian chose when he found himself with the symptoms of prostate cancer. At the time Bruce Higley, from Sacramento, felt like he was holding down two jobs (one was a volunteer position) and he was also dealing with unresolved issues of resentment and disappointment. But after several months of praying, with the help of a Christian Science practitioner, he finally found himself free of fear.

“I understood a little better the eternal fact that God’s unlimited love and goodness are an infallible support, which is constantly with each of us,” Higley recalled. As this process unfolded, spiritual ideas gradually “crystallized” for him until the fear of the pain left and every cancer symptom vanished.

“There was no more disappointment, no more resentment, no more fear or pain–just peace, joy, love, and intense gratitude to God for His ubiquitous, unchanging truth,” he wrote.

To screen or not to screen is, of course, a deeply personal choice that has to be made wisely by each individual, on a case by case basis.

Yet beyond addressing that “should I” or “shouldn’t I” question there’s also the wisdom that remains open to a “third option, whatever that might be” – as someone once described to me her own defence against seeing only polarised possibilities.

One of those “whatevers” is to remember we can always screen our thinking. That doesn’t mean scouring our consciousness for mental flaws and blaming ourselves for our ills. It means quieting our fears and listening within for “the still, small voice” of the Divine – as the Bible poetically puts it – assuring us of how inherently good we are as His “image and likeness”.

By digging deeper in this way many, including me, have found we aren’t as beholden as we seem either to our stubborn character traits or to our ailments. Instead, we are empowered to challenge physical and mental diagnoses as mistaken views of our true identity as the sons and daughters of God.

That spiritual status – child of God – is an unwavering divine view of who we each truly are. And sometimes just a glimpse of that deeper idea of ourselves can lead towards our health being gratefully restored.

A Mother’s Day Message of Equality For All Mankind.

It was a Hollywood rumor that Julia Roberts was approached by Val Kilmer to play Mrs. Eddy in a major motion picture. Regardless, the comments cited in this post by Julia Roberts would still be in harmony with Mrs. Eddy’s quote below which includes treating LGBT people with safety, love and respect.

“I had the pleasure of presenting with Miguel at last year’s GLSEN Respect Awards, and Miguel, like all the students I meet there, is smart, kind and incredibly brave to live their life openly and honestly at such a young age,” Roberts said in a statement to PEOPLE. “As a parent, I want all students to feel safe and protected at school, and I stand with Miguel and trans students across the country. You are loved.”